Edward Romano is elected to lead Board of Education in Bedminster

BEDMINSTER TWP. - Changes are coming to the Board of Education
after years of the same leadership, but they probably won't alter
the district's educational path.

Edward Romano, a school board member for the past five years,
was elected president by his colleagues at the annual
reorganization meeting Thursday, May 1.

He replaces Mark Sperber, who didn't seek re-election after
serving on the board for six years, the past five as president.

"I thought Mark was a phenomenal president," remarked Romano, a
dentist and father of two. "I thought he brought a lot of
level-headedness to the board, and I would plan to continue on the
course he set out for us."

Romano was elected school board president in absentia, as he was
in Florida attending a dental association meeting.

He said he had agreed before leaving for his trip to accept the
presidency if the two board members with more seniority - Judith
Farrell and Marie Barbuto - weren't interested in the position.

James Immormino was elected vice president at the meeting,
replacing Farrell, who had served in the post for the past five
years. Immormino is entering his third year on the board, having
been elected in a write-in vote two years ago.

Barbuto was sworn-in to a new term on the school board, while
Robert Hendrickson was sworn-in to his first term. Both were
elected to three-year terms in the April school board election.

Maneck Master, an incumbent who was re-elected to a new term in
April, was absent from Thursday's meeting and couldn't be
sworn-in.

A Star Is Born?

Romano said one of his goals as new board president is to help
the Bedminster Elementary School win statewide recognition as a
blue ribbon school district.

"I feel the school has made great strides in the past three
years," said Romano. "I'd like to see our school become a star
school district in the state."

Romano said he believes the recent hiring of a new principal,
Gail Wiser, is an important step toward achieving that goal. Wiser,
who currently serves as superintendent/principal in Hunterdon
County's Franklin Township, will begin at the Bedminster School in
July.

"One of the reasons we hired the principal we did is because
she's fantastic with curriculum development," Romano explained,
adding that he thinks an improved curriculum will help propel
Bedminster toward blue ribbon status.

Romano has lived in Bedminster since he was in sixth grade and
is a graduate of the old Bedminster School on Main Street.

He and his wife, Anne, have two children: Joseph, a fifth
grader, and Corinne, a fourth grader. Romano noted that his wife is
a former teacher in the Tewksbury Township school system and is
also the daughter of two teachers.

A dentist who has been in private practice in Morristown for the
past 16 years, Romano is more than just a school leader.

At the dental meeting in Florida last week, he became
president-elect of the New Jersey American Academy of Cosmetic
Dentistry. He will take office in 2004.

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